Rotary gas engine



March 25 1924. I 11,487,829

P. ARRIGH] ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Sept. 29 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1 g,Z.

JNVENTOR.

QQUWM ATTORNEY March 25 1924. ]l,4-87,829

P. ARRIGHI ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Sept. 29 1920 4 Sheetsheet 2 IN V ENTOR. P157790 flE/P/GW/ ATTORNEY March 25 1924. 1,487,829

P. ARRIGHI ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Sept. 29 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l i 124 ill!!! 63? a Him 1 mm JUHNHUHNIN Q ml km' P/E/Eo Alexa/6 HI ATTORNEYVllllllllllllillllfl Mai-ch 25, 1924. 1,487,829

' ARRIGH] ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Sept. 29, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' INVEN TOR. WET/90 1455/6/10 BY g Md,

ATTORNEY citizen of the United States,

. ing fixed or Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

u. an

PIETRO ARRIGHI, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

Application filed September 29, 1920. Serial No. 413,585.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIETRO AnRIeHI, a residing at the city and count ofCalifornia, ave invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary GasEngines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a gas engine and especiall to an engine of therotar type.

One 0' the objects of the present invention is to provide a simplecompact internal combustion engine of the rotary type which is soconstructed that one or more cylinders may be arranged in alignment andthe power produced transmitted to a common main shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of pistons foreachcylinder, said pistons being of the vane type and directly supportedby the main shaft; one piston beeyed to the shaftso as to rotate inunison therewith,- a hile the other piston is mountedfor. oscillationupon the shaft while rotating therewith. Another object of the inventionis to rovide a crank shaft supported bythexed piston and a connectingrod connection between the second named iston and-the crank shaftwhereby an oscil ating movement is transmitted thereto; further toprovide a pair of fixed gears and a air of pinions intermeshingtherewith; said pinions being secured to the crank shaft to transmit arotary movement thereto. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve arrangementwhereby the intake and exhaust of the engine is regulated and four-cycleoperation permitted; further to so time the movement of the istons andvalves that two explosions wil be obtained during each revolution of thefixed piston and the main shaft.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in 'which 4 Fig.1 is a side elevation of the engine.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged centralvertical cross section.

Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section with parts brokenaway. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the fixed piston. I

,of San Francisco and State the heads are water jacketed in thisinstance,

but may be designed for air cooling if desired. Extending through thecylinder and the head members 2 and 3 is a main shaft B. This shaft isjournalled in bearing members formed in the heads 2 and 3, respectively,and it serves two functions, first, that of supporting a fly-Wheel 4 anda timing gear 5, andsecon'dly that of supporting a pair of pistons 6 and7. The pistons 6 and 7 are supported directly by the main shaft B andare of course positioned within the cylinder between the head members 2and 3. The piston 6 is fixed with relation to the main shaft B as it iskeyed thereto as indicated at 8. The piston 7 is also directly supportedby the main shaft, but is freely turnable thereon, that is anoscillating movement is transmitted to the piston 7 during the rotationof the fixed plston and the main shaft and this'is accomplished in thefollowing -manner:

The fixed piston consists of a main vane 6, the outer face and sides ofwhich carry piston rings 9. The piston otherwise consists of a pair ofsubstantially sector shaped side plates 10 on which are fixed bearinghubs 11, which support the piston with relation to the main shaft; thehubs being keyed to the shaft as illustrated at 8. The side lates arealso provided with a pair of bearlng members 12, in which is journalle'da crank shaft 13, and it is further provided with a pair of segmentalflanges 14 which are formed integral with the side plates 10 and thepiston vane 6. The side plates 10 are interspaced to form. a pocket 15,(see Fig. 6)' for the reception of a substantially sector shapedmainsupporting plate 16 of the piston 7. This pla the main shaft extendstherethrough as indicated at 17, (see Fig. 8,) and it also serves asasupport for a piston vane 7, which is practically identical inconstruction with the piston vane 6, that is the sides and outer endsare provided with rings 18 to reduce gas leakage to a minimum. The widthof the piston vanes .6 and 7 are equal to the spacing between thecylinder heads 2 and 3.

to forms a bearing for said piston as The width of the segmental flanges14 on the fixed piston is similar, but the width of the plate 16 isequal to the space formed between the side plates 10 on the fixedpiston. The plate 16 will therefore enter the space 15 formed betweenthe side plates 10 and one son with the same, while the piston 7 isfreelyumounted on the shaft and is therefore movable independent of thesame.

In actual practice an oscillating move ment is transmitted to the pistonthrough the medium of the crank shaft 13 and a connecting rod 19 whichis attached to the rear side of the piston 7 as indicated at 20, androtary movement is in turn transmitted to the crank shaft through meansof a pair of pinions 21 secured thereon which intermesh with a pair ofstationary gears 22 secured to the respective c linder heads 2 and 3 asindicated at 23. The gear ratio employed is four to one, that is thepinions 21 will make four complete revolutions while the main piston ismaking one complete revolution about the stationary gears 22. Eightoscillations will in this manner be transmitted to the piston 7 and itis therefore possible to obtain four cycle action and simultaneouslyobtain two explosions during each revolution of the main shaft. Withthis object in view I have provided two opposed exhaust ports 24, two oposed inlet valves 25 and two opposed spar plugs 26. The exhaust portsare formed by coring the cylinder and they are automatically covered oruncovered by the movement of the pistons, thus eliminating the use"ofvalves at these points. The intake ports are also cored in the cylinder,but valves asindicated at 25 are employed. These valves are supported incages 27 screwed into or otherwise secured with relation to thecylinder. Each valve is mechanically actuated by a cam 28. These are inturn operated from the main shaft by gear trains indicated at 29 (seeFig. 2,) which are driven by the timing gear he gear ratio is one to oneas each inlet valve isopened and closed once during each revolution ofthe istons. The distributor indicated at 30 is secured directly on theouter end of the main shaft and closes the circuit through each onceduring each revolution; bein required in this instance as two explosionstake place during each revolution. In actual operation we will supposethat the pistons assume the full line position shown in Fig. 3;oscillatin piston 7 has moved rearwardly with relatlon to the mainplston 6, and the inlet valve 25 has been opened by its actuating campasuction was spark plug .no gearing produced during the rearward movementof i the piston 7 and an explosive mixture was forward and therebycompress the explosive charge between the istons. The two pistons nowregister wit the spark plug 26 and a circuit is closed throu h the plugso that the charge is ignited. 'I he force of the explosion is exertedon the main piston 6 and this will continue to travel in the directionof arrow a. The explosive mixturewill thus expand and the piston 6 willreach the point where it uncovers or passes beyond the exhaust ports 24.The burnt charge under slight pressure will thus-escape and will becompletely removed by forward movementlof the oscillating piston. Thecontinued revolution .of the pistons causes the main piston 6 to passbeyond the second inlet valve 25 and simultaneously rearward movement tobe transmitted to the oscillat ing piston. The second inlet valve 25 isnow opened and a new explosive charge is admitted between the 'istons;this charge being compressed by orward'movement of the oscillatingpiston. Complete forward movement and maximum compression is reached bythe time register is made with the second spark plug 26 and it is hereignited and permitted to expand or exert its force on the main piston 6.

From the foregoin it can be seen that four-cycle movement istransmitted; further that the eight oscillating movements transmitted tothe oscillating piston 7 permits the introduction of two separate exlosive charges, separate ignition of said 0 arges,

and separate scavenging of the same, hence.

the provision of the proposed inlet valve, exhaust ports and sparkplugs.

In actual practice with both tating in the direction of arrow it isobvious that the main piston rotates with a constant speed as it issecured to the main shaft B; further that the piston 7 must follow themain piston as it is connected therewith through the medium of the rod19 and the crank shaft 13. An oscillating movement is howevertransmitted thereto as the crank shaft makes four complete revolutionsduring one revolution of the main shaft; this being due to the fact thatthe pinions 21 remain in constant mesh with the stationary gears 22. Byreferrin to F i 3 it will be seen that a. latch '30 is di spose eachspark plug. The forward fare of each latchis cam-shaped as at 31 topermit the pistons when passing by to depress the same. These latchesare provided as back stops for the oscillating piston '7 might rotate ineither direction if the back stops or latches 80 were not provided. In

istons roadjacent that is the pistonsthe function of the latch 30. If anexplosion takes place at this point, it should be obvious that the mainpiston will travel in the direction of arrow A as the oscillating pistonis held against rearward movement by the latch, and it may here bestated that it practically remains stationary and in engagement with thelatch while the main piston is movin forward due to the expansive forceof t e burning charge. After the forward movement of the main piston hastaken place the crank shaft will force the oscillating piston forwardlyand complete exhaust or scavenging of the charge will then take place.Sufficient momentum is produced during this forward movement of the twopistons to prevent reverse movement during the suction and compressionstroke and the second latch is passed or registered with before the nextexplosion takes place.

By referring to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, 1t Wlll be seen that theoscillating piston 7 passes over the segmental flanges 14 duri itsoscillating movement, and that the rward portion of the plate 16 passesbetween the side plates 10 of the main piston 6. This is important as itprovides a series of snugly fitted surfaces through which gas losses byleakage are reduced to a minimum.

While certain features of the present 'invention are more or lessspecifically illus trated, I wish it understood that various changes inform and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims, similarly that the materials and.

finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience andjudgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varying uses may demand.

aving thus described'my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. An internal combustion engine comprisin a casinghaving a cylinder chamber formed therein, a cylinder head on each'end ofthe-casing forming-a closure forthe respective ends of the cylinderchamber, a main shaft extending directly through the cylinder chamberand journaled in the head members, a main piston mounted on the shaftand comprising a transverse vane and spaced substantially sector shapedside prising a casing having a cylinder chamber formed therein, acylinder head on each end of the casin forming a closure for therespective en s of the cylinder chamber, a main shaft extending directlythrough the cylinder chamber and journaled in the head members, a pistoncomprising spaced sub stantially sector shaped side plates formin aspace, a transverse vane carried by the side plates and segmentalflanges extending from the transverse piston at the peripheries of theside plates, a second piston composed of a vane, and a mainsubstantially sector shaped supporting plate mounted on the shaft andarranged' in the said space and having its peripheral edge coincidingwith the peripheral edges of the said side plates, and means carried bythe first named piston for transmitting second piston.

3. An internal combustion engine comprisin a casing havin a cylinderchamber formed end of the casingforming a closure for the respectiveends of the cylinder chamber, a

oscillatory movement to the main shaft extending directly through thecured to the cylinder heads, a crank shaft mounted in the said bearingmembers and provided with pinions meshing with the said stationarygears, and a connecti rod connecting the crank shaft with e secondpiston.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PliEflRO ARRIGHI.

Witnesses:

. W. W. HEALEY,

HnNRr Armour.

therein, a cylinder head on each

